Agreement with Saudi Arabia on cards

New Delhi: India hopes to soon sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia to protect various rights of Indian workers in that country, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

“We have started the process with Saudi Arabia to sign an MoU to protect various rights of Indian workers and are awaiting their response,” Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said.

He said to protect various rights of Indian workers, the Ministry has also entered into bilateral labour agreements with the UAE and Kuwait.

These MoUs provide for a joint Committee consisting of representatives of both countries to meet periodically to discuss and resolve grievancese of workers.

Responding to a question on the status of Indians deported from Arabian countries, Ravi said during 2007, deportations from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait were done on grounds of non-possession of valid visas/resident permits, violations of local rules and regulations.

He also informed that amnesty was declared for workers overstaying illegally.